The AP reported this morning that Wayne Gretzky's mother passed away yesterday. Our sympathies are with the family. Good thing he went to be with her in Canada. Sometimes monumental things happen back home while we are away. In other words, life goes on without us. This is especially hard for funerals and family reunions, but we also miss birthdays, weddings, and other major events. Sometimes, like with the death of a mother, we are pulled back home. I guess my point is that there are some things that we simply should not miss, no matter how far away we live.
While living in Mexico City, I had known for some time that my father was dying of cancer. When the family called and said, "He might not last much longer," I went home to see him. He lasted about 8 more months, and I went home again for the funeral. Granted, Mexico City is not as far from Arizona as, say, Hong Kong, but the trip still meant missing several days of work, leaving the family behind, and paying for travel. But it had to be done.
What have you done when news from home required an urgent trip, or the hard decision to
not go home?
